Bev:- From 'public nuisance' to a star

Raunchy dancer Beverly Sibanda is an embodiment of defiance and resilience.

She has stood against all odds to become one of the country's sought-after celebrities. Hers was a life of controversy when she stormed the industry with her rather unique dances.

The dance industry had witnessed various styles over the past few years - from Sandra Ndebele to Mambokadzi and Girls of Peace - but Bev's style was more of an extreme approach to the art of revealing some female body parts to lure the male audience.

Hers was a brave venture into an unexplored world and very few gave her half a chance of normalising her "abnormal" dance routines by documented local standards. Men that attended her shows risked moral degradation in their communities because many women doubted the motives of her highly-revealing and sexually-suggestive dance routines.

Even the police would not, at one point, resist public pressure to have her behind bars because of her immorality. She was arrested with fellow dancer Zoey Sifelani and they spent a night in police cells.

The name Bev was initially associated with notoriety and many times equated to p*rn stars. But Bev, in an explicit example of stiff-neckedness, soldiered against stereotypes and black paint brushes.

Now, like a proud princess, Bev prides herself with revolutionalising the dance industry. It is no longer uncommon to openly discuss Bev's dance styles or watch her on-stage videos. Of course, many are still to comprehend her "bottle" style but that will not take away credits from her achievements.

Luring a musician of Freddy Gwala's stature is no easy feat but Bev has done it with her very first effort in the music terrain. She has released an album titled Tapinda that features Gwala and was produced by Botswana-based Dr Tawanda.

Bev recounts she sent shivers down the spines of established dancers when she introduced her unique style.

"I was often physically attacked and some rowdy people would come to cause chaos at my shows," she said.

"I later realised these people were being sent by fellow dancers that were jealousy of my fast-rising popularity and wanted to frustrate me. I had to fight that by all means. I refused to be pulled down because I knew I had to live on my talent."

Bev said she initially faced social rejection in her community as she was labelled a stripper and given all immoral names.

"I stood firm and proved to my community that I was not a stripper but a passionate artiste with a different style. It was not easy but they gradually understood and people are no longer ashamed of being associated with me.

"I was not surprised when I was arrested because I saw it coming. That night in police cells made me strong. I knew I had made a brave statement and I am proud of that. I knew that I was doing my art within the confines of expected entertainment standards because I have a certificate from the Censorship Board to do what I do and that is why the police could not charge me for any offence."

Her dream is to fly higher and take her art regionally. Music would be a catalyst for her dream and she boldly declares: "One day Bev would be an international brand. I will take my bottle dances beyond boarders and the country will celebrate the girl they once called an outcast."